DID word meanings and common acronyms

"Fragment - an aspect of a personality that has not yet developed, and may never develop, into a full identity - but nonetheless displays traits separate from other personalities and can often act independently. Often holds a single memory, or handles a single emotion, or does a specific task."

Nice list!

I do have a question about Fragments. Can they also be ones that were once a whole personality but are getting closer to integration? What does it mean holds a single memory? Such as a one time abuse? How do fragments communicate? Or don't they?

I also have one about protectors...
"Protectors - as implied by the name, protectors work to protect the System. Some do this by being nasty to people (if they won't be near us, they can't hurt us), others by being nasty or harmful to other alters (if they don't feel good enough, they won't be around other people, therefore we won't get hurt). Others protect by getting between the System and any danger. There are many types of protectors, most commonly Physical, Emotional, Sexual, Internal".

All alters work to protect the [edited} core/original from abuse memories and often to hide the system from the [edited} core/original. Is a specific "protector" different since it protects the system?


Another Question...
Splitting is another that confuses me. I saw split on the list, but not splitting.

Does this mean rapid changing. I read it in a book published in 1998, Amongst Ourselves

Tylas I think the personalities try to hide memories or abuse from the core/original and not necessarily the host. I could be mistaken but that's just what I thought their jobs were .

Yes, that is what I meant by host, but you are right! I edited to say Core/Original

"Core/Original - usually is considered to be the person who was first in the body. This is sometimes, but not always, the Host/Fronter/Main."

Would someone add "gatekeeper"? I honestly do know thoroughly know the meaning of it.

I've added gatekeeper to the list, though that is only my understanding of it.

From my understanding of fragments, they are often made to hold one task, one emotion, or one memory. So yes, there can be fragments who are simply there because of one time of abuse. In my system, any fragments that do communicate do so with pictures, but not all do.

This is again my experience, from my system. We have several protectors. One is a physical protector - if it seems like we are heading into a physically (but non-sexual) dangerous situation, she will take control, try to diffuse the situation, and if not will fight so we get out of there in one piece. We have a couple emotional protectors, who try to shield all of us from any manipulation and emotional abuse we might go through. Some of the protectors have specific people to protect, others protect everyone in the system.

ETA- from my understanding, splitting is the act of one personality becoming two or more, the process that actually creates new alters.

Thank you for posting. I am still learning about myself and this makes things more clearer. I am the Host. I just realized this 6 months ago. I THought I was the original/core.

Thank you for posting this, this list has helped us.

thank you
it helped us a lot we were talking with one of Heidi's friends about what she lives with and the list helped us explain things better
thanks
Johnny

I really appreciate this list as I am new to all of these terms, and to this forum. Thank-you!!!

Cool list. Even though I have never liked the term alter or other, etc. I like saying "child mode" or "pieces" or "11 year old mode", etc. And then there is "throwing things mode" and "Jesus loves me mode", because those are the only clues I even have to their existence.

It helps me feel more like one person. Cuz I HATE feeling divided.